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Synopsis
This modern-day classic is an unforgettable tale of fantasy and adventure, a powerful exploration of the limits of human cruelty and kindness. A “gripping ... compelling tale of emotional force and high suspense” (The Wall Street Journal). Rowf, a shaggy black mongrel, and Snitter, a black-and-white fox terrier, are among dozens of animals being cruelly held in a testing facility in North West England. When one of the handlers fails to close Rowf’s cage properly, the two dogs make a daring escape into the English countryside, where they befriend a red fox who helps them survive in the wild. But as rumors circulate that the dogs may have been the test subjects for biological weapons and could be carrying a terrible plague, they soon find themselves targets of a great dog hunt. Local farmers, politicians, scientists, and even the military join in the search to track them down.
Is The Plague Dogs appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This novel contains depictions of animal testing and cruelty, animal deaths, and the dogs being hunted. The emotional weight is substantial, with themes of survival and societal fear.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include captivity, animal death, death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be gripped by this harrowing tale of two dogs fighting for freedom and survival against a world that fears them.